Editing Fowl (section)

==Systematics and evolution==
From the [[fossil]]s that have been recovered, the conclusion that the Galloanserae were already widespread by the end of the [[Cretaceous]] is generally accepted. A combination of fossils and [[molecular clocks]] estimated the origin of Galloanserae at 85 million years ago.<ref name=ClaramuntCracraft2015>{{cite journal |last1=Claramunt |first1=S. |last2=Cracraft |first2=J. |title=A new time tree reveals Earth history's imprint on the evolution of modern birds |journal=Science Advances |date=2015 |volume=1 |issue=11 |pages=e1501005 |doi=10.1126/sciadv.1501005 |pmid=26824065 |pmc=4730849 |bibcode=2015SciA....1E1005C }}</ref> Fossils such as ''[[Vegavis]]'' indicate that essentially modern waterfowl, albeit belonging to a now-[[extinct]] lineage, were contemporaries of the non-avian [[dinosaur]]s. While the dominant [[avialans]] of the [[Mesozoic Era]], the [[Enantiornithes]], died out with all other non-avian dinosaurs, the Galloanserae (fowl) survived to become the first successful group of modern birds after the other dinosaurs died out.

As opposed to the [[Morphology (biology)|morphologically]] fairly conservative Galliformes, the Anseriformes have adapted to filter-feeding and are characterized by many [[autapomorph]]ies related to this lifestyle. The extremely advanced feeding systems of the Anseriformes, together with similarities of the early anseriform ''[[Presbyornis]]'' to [[shorebird]]s, had formerly prompted some scientists to ally Anseriformes with [[Charadriiformes]], instead.<ref>Benson, D. (1999)</ref><ref>Feduccia, A. (1999)</ref> However, as strong support for the Galloanserae has emerged in subsequent studies, the fowl clade continues to be accepted as a genuine evolutionary lineage by the vast majority of scientists.